Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
Seeing that our administration was not being moved by the voices crying from the people here, I have remained silent on this site for a time. In that time, I have tried to communicate directly with our Metropolitan in the form of three personal letters. Not only has our Metropolitan not responded to any of them, I never received so much as an acknowledgement that they were even received. Be that as it may, my silence here can continue no longer. Everything that has gone on with our administration is unbelievable, but a $25,000 birthday party for our chief monk -- well that just takes the cake. (As an aside, I wonder what kind of birthday parties the children of Beslan will receive this year?) But in honor of such an extravagant (dare I say “obscene”?) display being put on in New York, I have composed the following poem:

THE ORTHODOX WAY?

The man in the black robe
In search of a more impressive hat
Processes down the shadowed side of the street
He stops only to consider a beggar girl
Holding her cup with just one coin
Hoping for enough that day to eat

The man discusses her condition for a little while
He recites the words of a formal prayer
And presents his hand for her to kiss
And reaching into her little cup
He removes her only coin and says,
‘My child, the church has need of this.’